Chapter 22- Epilogue

The day of our graduation arrived, a culmination of years of hard work, laughter, tears, and unforgettable memories. The campus buzzed with excitement as students donned their caps and gowns, ready to step into the next phase of life. Anshu  stood beside me, looking radiant in her robe, her name tag now proudly reading "Aaradhyanshi Raghavendra."

She caught me staring and smirked. “What? Haven’t seen someone look this good in a cap and gown before?”

I chuckled. “You look like you walked straight out of a royal portrait. Fitting, considering your name.”

She rolled her eyes playfully. “Don’t flatter me too much, Vikrant. Your ego might rub off on me.”

The ceremony itself was a blur of speeches, applause, and the sound of names being called out. When Aaradhyanshi’s name echoed through the hall, the boys and I cheered louder than anyone else, earning a glare from the dean. She walked across the stage with her usual grace, pausing to wink at us before accepting her degree.

Later, as the crowd dispersed, she turned to me with a wide grin. “So, Mr. Vikrant, what’s the plan? Partying all night?”

I shook my head, smirking. “Actually, we had something else in mind. Thought we’d visit the history museum instead.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “The museum? Why?”

I leaned closer, lowering my voice. “Because we want to see you in history, princess.”

The museum was quiet, a stark contrast to the bustling celebrations outside. As we walked through the grand halls, Aaradhyanshi’s fingers brushed against mine, her touch grounding me.

When we reached the section dedicated to the Raghavendra lineage, we all paused, staring at the portraits lining the walls. And there she was—a younger version of her, immortalized in oil paint, her expression regal yet kind.

“That’s you,” Aryan said, his voice filled with awe.

Aaradhyanshi nodded, her gaze soft. “That’s Aaradhyanshi Raghavendra. The girl who chose to set things right.”

We stood there in silence, the weight of history pressing down on us. Then Aaradhyanshi turned to us, her smile breaking the tension. “Alright, enough staring. Let’s move before people start asking why I look exactly like her.”

The boys laughed, and we continued exploring, making jokes and taking pictures. It wasn’t a typical graduation celebration, but it was perfect.

A few days later, it was time for Aaradhyanshi to officially meet my family. Though they had met her briefly before, this was different. This was formal.

My mother, always the gracious host, pulled Aaradhyanshi into a warm hug the moment we arrived. “You’re even more beautiful than I remembered,” she said, her eyes sparkling.

“Thank you, Aunty,” Aaradhyanshi replied, her voice soft.

“None of that,” my mother said, waving her hand dismissively. “Call me Ma.”

The rest of the evening was filled with laughter and stories. My friends adored her, my father respected her, and my mother… well, she loved her more than she loved me.

“You know,” my mother said at one point, “I always wanted a daughter. Now I have one.”

Aaradhyanshi smiled, her eyes misty. “And I always wanted a family. Now I have one too.”

Over the next few weeks, Aaradhyanshi surprised me by taking an active interest in my “other” work.

“I can help,” she said one evening, sitting beside me as I reviewed some documents.

I raised an eyebrow. “You’re a princess, anshu , not a gangster.”

She smirked. “And you’re a gangster, not a prince. But here we are.”

Despite my protests, she proved to be incredibly resourceful. Her intelligence and quick thinking saved us from a potential ambush, and the boys began to rely on her almost as much as they relied on me.

One evening, as we sat on the terrace of our home, the city lights twinkling below us, I turned to her.

“anshu ,” I began, my voice serious. “You’ve changed my life in ways I can’t even describe. You’ve given me hope, love, and a reason to be better. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’m grateful every day.”

She smiled, leaning her head against my shoulder. “You don’t have to say anything, Vikrant. I feel the same way.”

I tilted her chin up, meeting her gaze. “I love you, anshu .”

Her eyes softened. “I love you too vikrant oberoi.”

I leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss that was slow and tender, filled with all the emotions I couldn’t put into words.

A few days later, Aaradhyanshi decided it was time to visit her real family. She didn’t tell them about her rebirth, only that she had discovered her lineage. They welcomed her with open arms, and though it was bittersweet, she seemed at peace.

When she returned, we sat together, reflecting on everything that had happened.

“Life is unpredictable,” she said, her voice thoughtful. “But sometimes, it gives us exactly what we need.”

I nodded, squeezing her hand. “And sometimes, it gives us miracles.”

As the sun set, casting a golden glow over the city, we sat in silence, content in the knowledge that whatever the future held, we would face it together. With my Anshu .

The End  ❤️

Hello, my lovely readers! It's your author Megh here 🧿❤️

Thank you for reading this short story. I know it might not be the most impressive or anything extraordinary, but it's still a part of my world. This was my first attempt at writing a short story, and I’m happy that I did it. Sometimes, short stories can be like mini dramas, something we want to see because it features our favorite actor or actress. I hope you enjoyed it.

Please, no hate comments. As I mentioned in the author’s note, I didn’t expect this to be impressive, especially if you’re one of my long-time readers familiar with my other works. This story was meant to feel like a short, fast-paced mini-drama with a few quick scene shifts.

Until we meet again in another one of my worlds.

Thank you for loving vikrant and Aaradhyaanshi as much as I do!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the epilogue—feel free to share how you felt while reading it! Pleaseeeeeee!!!!!!!!🥹

Aapke author ke saath Bane rahiye ...aisi bohot kahaniyan hai dil mein jo ab likhna hai aap logon k liye .......

yeh toh  sirf ek kahani

thiii ....

(Stay tuned for more stories from my heart. There are many more tales waiting to be written just for you.

This was just one story among many...)